Process for treating mineral fibrous substances, such as glass wool, slag wool, or the like



Patented Sept. 17,1940

YUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROCESS FOR TREATING MINERAL FI- ,BROUS' SUBSTANCES, SUCH AS GLASS WOOL, SLAG WOOL, THE LIKE 1 f Clemens Hannen, Sinzig-on-the-Rhine, Germany No Drawing. Application December 16', 1937, Se-

I rial No. 180,261. In Germany December 28,

7 1. fact that it is generally brittle, unduly thick and smooth, suitable for the production of particular n fabrics which should have a flannel-like quality. Anobject of the present invention is to produce a glass, wool'which has the desirable rough feel." 1' In orderTit-lia t the necessary desired roughness of the glass'wool' fibe'rs maybe attained, there is added, during the conversion of the fused mass intofibers such 'as is practised in the said processes',"finelygroundfpowder which is then deposited on-sthesurface 'of the still fluid and tacky glass wool fibers and gives them a rough feel. For the production of this dust materials of wi dely varying type may be used, such s glass, sand=,,quartz-sand, asbestos, quick-lime, limestone, g." fluorspar, chalk, pumice stone, and other corresponding kinds of stones'with or without the addition of soda, potash ,-"salt's, and similar agents which'bringf about a rapid and firm union of the dust with thefj surfa'ce ofthe glass wool fibers. If necessary, the. dust may be heated before use.

-An object of a further feature of the invention is to produce a glass wool which is'thinner, finer and, therefore, more fiexible than was hitherto obtainable, and in order to attain this object the I glass wool may be treated with liquid or gaseous solvents, such as hydrofluoric acid, ammonium fluoride, alkalies, acids and salts thereof, or with mixtures thereof, which are selected according to the kind of dust used. The solvents may becaused to act on the dust and on the raw material as desired. Thus the main object of the invention is to roughen the surfaces of the fibers by mechanical means such as with the dust, by mechanical .and

3 chemical means such as with the dust and a solsc ms. (01. 49-775) vent or solvents, and solely by chemical means such as'with the solvent or solvents. In the case of glass wool, the treatment with the solvents occurs with the material in the form of skeins, by the skeins being drawn through the solvent bath by means of a drum or a similar device or in the simplest form of treatment merely by hand. In the case of'fiocculent or short-fibre glass wool, the treatment may be by dipping,

moistening or sprinkling. 10

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. A process for the treatment of silicious fibers 1 which comprises forming fibers from molten material and while the fibers are still plastic, coating the surface thereof with a dust composed of a finely pulverized material selected from the following group consisting of, glass, sand, quartz sand, asbestos, quick lime, lime stone, fluorspar,

chalk and pumice stone, to render them more suitable for spinning and weaving.

2. A process for the treatment of silicious fibers which comprises forming the fibers from molten :1 1

material and while the fibers are still'plastic, coating the surface thereof with a dust selected from the followingpggroup, consisting of glass, sand, quartz sandyasbest os, quick lime, lime stone,

fluorspanchalk-andgpumice stone, said dust hava I:

ing mixed with it a substance selected from the following group consisting of soda and potash, to render them more suitable for spinning and weavmg.

3. A process for the treatment of silicious fibers to render their surfaces rough, which comprises coating said surfaces with a material selected from the following'group consisting of glass, sand, quartz sand, asbestos, quick lime, lime stone,

fluorspar, chalk and pumice stone, and treating 0 the coated substance with a solvent that will attack its surface and is selected from the following group consisting of alkalies, ammonium fluoride and hydro-fiuoric acid. CLEMENS HANNEN. 

